Goodbye Jason Jakubowski
After nearly six years as Vanderbilt’s Director of Housing Assignments, Jason Jakubowski has accepted the position of Assistant Dean of Students at Niagara University. Jason’s new responsibilities will include housing facilities and assignments, residence life, student conduct, and program assessment. Located near Jason’s home town, Niagara University is a private liberal arts university anchored in the Catholic tradition. Enrollment is approximately 3,300 undergraduate and 950 graduate students. Campus housing can accommodate more than 1,400 students. We know that Jason will excel in his new role.
Since joining Vanderbilt in May 2007, Jason has led the housing assignments office through significant changes. He started by managing the transition of first-year housing from the central campus to the Ingram Commons and assigning the inaugural first-year class to the Commons. In cooperation with the offices of LGBTI Life and Residential Education, Jason developed new coeducational living options that housed women and men in the same suites and lodges. Facing the temporary loss of 600 beds to make way for College Halls at Kissam, Jason developed alternative housing, opened Blakemore House, developed off campus priority options for VU undergraduates, and created off-campus fairs to help students find apartments off campus. Every year since he arrived, Jason added new functions to the online application and balloting system that made lottery faster and less stressful.
Most significantly, Jason strengthened the student-centered focus of the housing assignments office. A friend to many students, it is a common occurrence for students to stop Jason around campus for housing advice, personal guidance or to just chat about the Grateful Dead and the glory days of the Buffalo Bills. His last day at Vanderbilt will be April 26. Please join us in wishing Jason and his family the very best as they return to the Buffalo area.